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Peter King Mocks the Packers a Defensive Lineman

Peter King of Sports Illustrated posted his annual mock draft Tuesday, and one of the nation's most plugged-in reporters gave the Packers Michigan State defensive tackle Jerel Worthy at No. 28 overall.

"Worthy would be the long-term replacement for Cullen Jenkins, though I could see G.M. Ted Thompson going for a big-potential outside threat like Nick Perry or Shea McClellin as a bookend pass rusher for Clay Matthews," King wrote.

A decorated college player who many consider a first-round defensive lineman, Worthy fits a need at defensive end for the Packers' 3-4 defense.

As a junior in 2011, Worthy helped Michigan State's defense lead the Big Ten in rushing defense, total defense and sacks. The Asssociated Press named Worthy a first-team All-American for his efforts. He then entered the 2012 NFL draft a year early after compiling 25.5 tackles for losses and 12 sacks in 37 career games in East Lansing.

King wasn't done with his opinion on the Packers' first-round pick, however.

As he has done for years, King also identified a player each team "should pick." In the Packers' case, King picked Boise State running back Doug Martin.

"Martin is the kind of versatile cold-weather back who would fit the Pack perfectly," King wrote. "'He's this draft's Ray Rice,' one personnel man told me."

Martin rushed for almost 3,431 yards and 43 touchdowns over four years at Boise State. He also caught 67 passes for 715 yards and four scores.

While the Packers may have a need at running back, it doesn't appear likely that GM Ted Thompson would use such a high pick on the position. The defense simply needs too much help to use a top-30 selection on a running back.

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Comments (19)
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As Brian knows, I would love Worthy, and I think Trgo could really motivate him. He fills that need, hasn't had health issues, and while many think he's a "me first!" kind of guy, from what I read, his coaches and teammates liked him.

As far as Martin goes, I love the guy. When I was reading up on RBs for the Draft Guide, his name popped up a lot after the Senior Bowl as a back who was making a legitimate name for himself.

Worthy's inconsistency is a mental thing for him. I think he got complacent in college, and he left for the pros because he thinks he can dominate, which he can.

It's not that he's "lazy" or doesn't love football. I don't know the guy personally, but I do know that he wasn't recruited by anyone. He was something like a two-star coming out of high school. To me, that motivation made him an ALL AMERICAN, lest us not forget.

Now he's slipping in the draft, and he's come out and said he got complacent (or something of the like, I don't have exact quotes). It seems like he's a two-star all over again, this time in the eyes of NFL scouts.

Before his Jr. year, he was a top-10 prospect. That image has cost him a ton of money, and I think HE thinks he's better than late-first. I think he'll be plenty motivated.

I could be way off, and he could be a total bust. But this is just the humble opinion of someone who's followed MSU football pretty closely.

I really don't care about all that. Ryan Leaf was an All-American. If he didn't give his all every snap (and I saw some of his games. He didn't, and you know it), he's not going to start doing so in the pros. Certainly not because of his perceived draft status.

Haynesworth, when he signed with the Redskins, said he was extremely motivated to not be a bust. That people could write it down and hold it against him later.

It's not what a player says, it's what a player does.

If he's drafted by the Packers, I hope I'm completely wrong. But drafting a player that did not hustle every snap and hoping that he's going to change in the pros is just that, hope.

I just can't stand his writing. He did create an unique type of column, and with the internet his style became relevant. However he's just so indecisive on what he writes, in the same time he tries to sell that as inside knowledge. The structure of his sentences are also very awkward.

And, overall, I just don't think he knows a lot about football, certainly not enough to warrant the reputation he has.

He's a sports journalist. More specifically, a football journalist. Yet, roughly half of his column is about football.

Nobody else (save for an even worse "journalist" in Bill Simmons) can afford to even include something other than football in their work. We're talking about guys like Bob McGinn, Rick Gosselin... And Peter King, who publishes a column once a week, spends half of his work on something other than football. On coffee, beer, travels...

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"I firmly believe that any man’s finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle – victorious."